Stylish Italian saloons have always occupied a special place in the heart of petrolheads looking for a family car, and the Alfa Romeo Giulia is the latest in a long line. It’s recently been facelifted for 2023, bringing a new look and a refined model lineup.

It’s not available as an estate, and nor does it come with a de rigueur plug-in hybrid engine option either, so Alfa isn’t trying to compete for the affections of big families or company car buyers. It’s there to give saloon car buyers a car that places style, driving dynamics and character above practicality and running costs.

The Giulia range is compact and focused, with just a single 280hp petrol engine and three trim levels. There’s also the firebreathing Giulia Quadrifoglio, which is one of the finest performance cars on sale today – especially after a 2023 update introduced suspension changes and a new limited-slip differential.

Since the beginning of 2021, Alfa’s Giulia range has been a petrol-only one. The old 2.2-litre diesel engines have been dropped, leaving company car drivers searching for low BIK options to look elsewhere. That’s not so bad for those who aren’t as the petrol is a performance-oriented one, with the 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder unit being putting out a chunky 280hp.

Standard trim levels are Sprint, Veloce and Competizione, and all are well-equipped. All models have digital dials, alloy wheels, climate control and a variety of safety aids, though we’d step up to Veloce trim for heated seats and a limited-slip differential. Competizione cars gain a Harmon Kardon sound system as well as adaptive dampers with regular and Sport modes.

Click through the next few pages to read everything you need to know about the Alfa Romeo Giulia including its practicality, how much it costs to run, what it’s like to drive – and whether we recommend buying one. If you’d like to learn more about how we reached our verdict on the Giulia, you can also check out our how we test cars explainer page.

Watch our Alfa Romeo Giulia video review